Prediabetes refers to the state in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to merit a diabetes diagnosis. Damage to the circulatory system and the heart may already have occurred at the prediabetes stage.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It refers to the way our bodies use digested food that is broken down into glucose, a form of sugar in the blood. Insulin, a hormone that is produced by the pancreas, helps glucose enter into our cells for energy and growth when food is digested. Insulin moves the glucose from the blood into cells. As glucose enters cells, the level of glucose in the blood drops. A person may have an elevated blood-glucose level because they are lacking insulin or their cells do not respond to insulin. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. This means that cells do not receive the energy and growth requirements needed from glucose, even though the blood has elevated amounts.
There are three types of Diabetes Mellitus:
Type 1 (previously known as Juvenile)
the pancreas produces little or no insulin
destroyed beta cells are generally a genetic defect
rapid onset
Type 2 (previously known as Adult Onset)
the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body is resistant to the effects
decreased insulin sensitivity generally due to lifestyle
slow onset
Gestational (occurs during pregnancy)
glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy
50% chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 10 - 20 years
pregnancy hormone can block insulin
Prediabetes can also have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. You can be considered to have prediabetes if your fasting glucose level is between 100-125 mg/dL.
There are a number of risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease, often those with Diabetes have these same markers, that puts them at risk for Cardiovascular Disease. The following are risk factors for CVD:
High Blood Pressure: Studies show that having hypertension increases risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Having diabetes and hypertension doubles this risk.
Abnormal Cholesterol and High Triglycerides: It is often seen that patients with diabetes have high LDL levels, low HDL levels, and high triglyceride levels. This elevates risks two-fold for patients with diabetes.
Obesity: Found to be one of the major risk factors for developing CVD and has strong ties leading to insulin resistance most commonly found in diabetics or pre-diabetics. Obesity and insulin resistance have also been associated with other risk factors such as high blood pressure, which, as stated above, increases CVD risk.
Lack of Physical Activity: Studies have shown that physical inactivity can increase bodyweight and can cause obesity, potentially leading to insulin resistance, a cause of pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Smoking: Whether diabetic or not, smoking can increase ones chances of developing CVD. With diabetes, however, it can increase the chances even more.
Poorly controlled blood sugar levels: Blood sugar levels that remain consistently high for an extended period of time can cause internal damage to the body. This increases the risk of developing CVD.
Risks for developing CVD with diabetes can happen with any type of diabetes but is seen in higher instances with type 2 patients.
Statistics from studies conducted by the American Heart Association speak loud and clear to those with diabetes and their risks for heart disease:
Heart disease and stroke are the number one causes of death and disability among people with type 2 diabetes. In fact, at least 65 percent of people with diabetes die from some form of heart disease or stroke.
Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than adults without diabetes.
The American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the six major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
The benefits of regular physical activity include body weight reduction, lower blood sugar, and heightened insulin sensitivity. Daily exercise helps to keep blood sugar within normal range.
2. Eat plenty of fiber
Insoluble fiber found in whole wheat and some vegetables helps to reduce the risk of diabetes by improving control over blood sugar levels along with promoting weight loss through increased satiety. Soluble fiber like that in Cheerios helps to lower the risk of heart disease by decreasing cholesterol.
3. Make carbohydrates count
Maintain blood sugar levels by controlling the amount and type of carbohydrates consumed. Avoid empty calories from the sugars in sodas and processed breads. By getting daily carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, the level of sugar in the blood can be better maintained. Consuming nutrient-rich carbohydrates will improve health and wellness.
4. Maintain a healthy body weight
Every extra pound of fat that is abnormal for frame size can be an increased risk for developing diabetes, among other diseases. Losing extra pounds can improve health, reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and help to increase insulin sensitivity.
5. Forget fad dieting and live a healthy lifestyle instead
Make habits that include an appropriate amount of exercise and a diet that can be maintained. Choose a diet that is right for you and your current health conditions. Extremely low-carb diets, the glycemic index diet, or other fad diets may be a good start, but their effectiveness at preventing diabetes isn't known. If they are too extreme, they will not last and may be unhealthy in the long run. Talk to a licensed professional that can design a diet right for you or follow a diet guideline, such as the Mediterranean diet. Easing into a lifestyle change will result in less resistance and increased participation. Having a diet partner or a support group may also help you make necessary changes.
Insulin, Drug, and Additional Treatment Methods to Manage Diabetes:
Insulin Treatment:
There are multiple types of insulin to treat diabetes. They are classified by how fast they start to work and how long their effects last.
The types of insulin include:
Rapid-acting
Short-acting
Intermediate-acting
Long-acting
Pre-mixed
Oral Treatment:
Usually prescribed for persons with type 2 diabetes because these patients still produce some insulin. Oral medications are not usually recommended for persons with type 1 diabetes because their bodies are not producing insulin and oral medication alone is not enough. Oral treatments only assist in controlling blood sugar levels in conjunction with recommended dietary changes and regular exercise.
Consult a registered dietitian to develop a reasonable diet plan, one that will address the issues with diabetes as well as provide your growing baby with sufficient calories and nutrients. A usual recommendation is 2,200-2,500 calories per day for women of average weight.
Alternative Treatment:
Supplements - Chromium has been widely publicized as therapy to improve diabetes control. Magnesium has been studied for years as a form of therapy to improve blood sugar control. Vanadium is derived from plant sources and has been shown in a few studies to increase a person’s sensitivity to insulin.
Most plants are rich in fiber, which is beneficial for helping control blood sugar levels. The following foods have also been found helpful to control blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes: brewer’s yeast, buckwheat, broccoli, okra, peas, fenugreek seeds, sage.
If you are overweight and have type 2 diabetes, a 5-10 percent weight loss will significantly reduce your blood sugar level, help increase insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure, and improve cholesterol. Furthermore, it is possible to discontinue medications with a controlled diet and weight loss.
Healthy tips for weight loss:
Ask your family to choose the same healthy foods you eat
Get everyone moving by being more physically active
Set goals for what you do
Challenge yourself and try to make each new goal a bit harder than the last
Avoid goals that are not attainable
Tell your family and friends about your goals and invite them to join in
Reward yourself when you reach a goal - avoid using food as a reward
Check with your doctor and registered dietitian before starting a diabetic weight loss plan. It is important to consult with a specialist to determine medication and meal effects on blood sugar levels.
Checking ketone levels is an important part in managing diabetes. Ketones are produced when fat is broken down for energy because the body is unable to use carbohydrates; there may not be enough insulin present to utilize the carbohydrates. The primary source of fuel for our brain and red blood cells is carbohydrates. However, if insulin is not present or is not effective, these tissues cannot utilize carbohydrates for energy. There can be negative consequences if someone is metabolizing fat as their main energy source for too long. Therefore, checking ketone levels is important to understand, because it can give you information about how your body is metabolizing nutrients. With this knowledge, you know what to adjust in your diet to help manage your diabetes. Ketone levels may be tested using two common methods: a simple urine test or a blood test. There are now ways to easily check your body's ketone levels using an at-home urine ketone strip.
There are certain times when checking and monitoring ketone levels are very important. One should check ketone levels when blood glucose levels regularly exceed 240 mg/dl. It is also recommended you check ketones in regards to exercise. If you check glucose and ketone levels before exercising and find blood glucose to be above 250 mg/dL with the presence of ketones, it is suggested to wait until glucose levels are normal and ketones are negative. Exercise could worsen hyperglycemia and ketosis. Finally, you should monitor ketones during illness. Illness causes the body stress which tends to increase glucose levels. It is recommended to check ketone levels every 4 hours or until negative.
More helpful information about how to check ketones may be found at: Checking Ketones
Prediabetes
Prediabetes refers to the state in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to merit a diabetes diagnosis. Damage to the circulatory system and the heart may already have occurred at the prediabetes stage.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It refers to the way our bodies use digested food that is broken down into glucose, a form of sugar in the blood. Insulin, a hormone that is produced by the pancreas, helps glucose enter into our cells for energy and growth when food is digested. Insulin moves the glucose from the blood into cells. As glucose enters cells, the level of glucose in the blood drops. A person may have an elevated blood-glucose level because they are lacking insulin or their cells do not respond to insulin. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. This means that cells do not receive the energy and growth requirements needed from glucose, even though the blood has elevated amounts.
There are three types of Diabetes Mellitus:
Prediabetes can also have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. You can be considered to have prediabetes if your fasting glucose level is between 100-125 mg/dL.
To learn more about prediabetes, you can visit: What is PreDiabetes?.
Having any type of diabetes has shown to increase patients' risk of cardiovascular disease.
For more general information, you can visit: What is Diabetes?
Learn more about each type by following the links listed below:
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes
Cardiovascular Disease- Relationship to Diabetes
There are a number of risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease, often those with Diabetes have these same markers, that puts them at risk for Cardiovascular Disease. The following are risk factors for CVD:
Risks for developing CVD with diabetes can happen with any type of diabetes but is seen in higher instances with type 2 patients.
For more information on risks visit:
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
Statistics
Statistics from studies conducted by the American Heart Association speak loud and clear to those with diabetes and their risks for heart disease:For more information about these statistics visit the link below:
Heart Disease and Diabetes Statistics
Image Source: American Heart Association
Prevention
Five Tips For Preventing Diabetes
1. Participate in regular physical activity
The benefits of regular physical activity include body weight reduction, lower blood sugar, and heightened insulin sensitivity. Daily exercise helps to keep blood sugar within normal range.2. Eat plenty of fiber
Insoluble fiber found in whole wheat and some vegetables helps to reduce the risk of diabetes by improving control over blood sugar levels along with promoting weight loss through increased satiety.Soluble fiber like that in Cheerios helps to lower the risk of heart disease by decreasing cholesterol.
3. Make carbohydrates count
Maintain blood sugar levels by controlling the amount and type of carbohydrates consumed. Avoid empty calories from the sugars in sodas and processed breads. By getting daily carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, the level of sugar in the blood can be better maintained. Consuming nutrient-rich carbohydrates will improve health and wellness.4. Maintain a healthy body weight
Every extra pound of fat that is abnormal for frame size can be an increased risk for developing diabetes, among other diseases. Losing extra pounds can improve health, reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and help to increase insulin sensitivity.5. Forget fad dieting and live a healthy lifestyle instead
Make habits that include an appropriate amount of exercise and a diet that can be maintained. Choose a diet that is right for you and your current health conditions. Extremely low-carb diets, the glycemic index diet, or other fad diets may be a good start, but their effectiveness at preventing diabetes isn't known. If they are too extreme, they will not last and may be unhealthy in the long run. Talk to a licensed professional that can design a diet right for you or follow a diet guideline, such as the Mediterranean diet. Easing into a lifestyle change will result in less resistance and increased participation. Having a diet partner or a support group may also help you make necessary changes.Image Source: Health.com
Treatment
Diet and exercise plans to help manage diabetes and cardiovascular disease:
Mediterranean Diet
Diet Basics for Diabetes
Carbohydrate Counting
Exercising with Diabetes and Exercise and Blood Glucose Control
Insulin, Drug, and Additional Treatment Methods to Manage Diabetes:
Insulin Treatment:
There are multiple types of insulin to treat diabetes. They are classified by how fast they start to work and how long their effects last.
The types of insulin include:
Rapid-acting
Short-acting
Intermediate-acting
Long-acting
Pre-mixed
Oral Treatment:
Usually prescribed for persons with type 2 diabetes because these patients still produce some insulin. Oral medications are not usually recommended for persons with type 1 diabetes because their bodies are not producing insulin and oral medication alone is not enough. Oral treatments only assist in controlling blood sugar levels in conjunction with recommended dietary changes and regular exercise.
For more information on oral medications:
Oral Diabetic Medications
Gestational Treatment:
Consult a registered dietitian to develop a reasonable diet plan, one that will address the issues with diabetes as well as provide your growing baby with sufficient calories and nutrients. A usual recommendation is 2,200-2,500 calories per day for women of average weight.
Alternative Treatment:
Supplements - Chromium has been widely publicized as therapy to improve diabetes control. Magnesium has been studied for years as a form of therapy to improve blood sugar control. Vanadium is derived from plant sources and has been shown in a few studies to increase a person’s sensitivity to insulin.
Most plants are rich in fiber, which is beneficial for helping control blood sugar levels. The following foods have also been found helpful to control blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes: brewer’s yeast, buckwheat, broccoli, okra, peas, fenugreek seeds, sage.
For more information on medications & treatment:
Diabetic Treatments
Weight Loss
If you are overweight and have type 2 diabetes, a 5-10 percent weight loss will significantly reduce your blood sugar level, help increase insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure, and improve cholesterol. Furthermore, it is possible to discontinue medications with a controlled diet and weight loss.
Healthy tips for weight loss:
Check with your doctor and registered dietitian before starting a diabetic weight loss plan. It is important to consult with a specialist to determine medication and meal effects on blood sugar levels.
For more information on weight loss visit: Food and Fitness
Ketones
Checking ketone levels is an important part in managing diabetes. Ketones are produced when fat is broken down for energy because the body is unable to use carbohydrates; there may not be enough insulin present to utilize the carbohydrates. The primary source of fuel for our brain and red blood cells is carbohydrates. However, if insulin is not present or is not effective, these tissues cannot utilize carbohydrates for energy. There can be negative consequences if someone is metabolizing fat as their main energy source for too long. Therefore, checking ketone levels is important to understand, because it can give you information about how your body is metabolizing nutrients. With this knowledge, you know what to adjust in your diet to help manage your diabetes. Ketone levels may be tested using two common methods: a simple urine test or a blood test. There are now ways to easily check your body's ketone levels using an at-home urine ketone strip.
There are certain times when checking and monitoring ketone levels are very important. One should check ketone levels when blood glucose levels regularly exceed 240 mg/dl. It is also recommended you check ketones in regards to exercise. If you check glucose and ketone levels before exercising and find blood glucose to be above 250 mg/dL with the presence of ketones, it is suggested to wait until glucose levels are normal and ketones are negative. Exercise could worsen hyperglycemia and ketosis. Finally, you should monitor ketones during illness. Illness causes the body stress which tends to increase glucose levels. It is recommended to check ketone levels every 4 hours or until negative.
More helpful information about how to check ketones may be found at:
Checking Ketones
More information about ketoacidosis may be found here at What is Ketoacidosis?.